Integrating process flows and safety information

A method for managing the manufacture or production of products includes associating an item description including safety information regarding the item with a process flow description of a process flow. The item is involved in the process flow. An assembly of one or more data structures includes a description of an item and a description of a process flow. The item is involved in the process flow. The description of the item includes identification information to identify the item, physical property information to characterize a physical property of the item, and safety information to characterize a safety attribute of the item. The data structures are tangibly embodied in an information carrier and readable by a data processing apparatus.